Tennis: Australian Open lifts prize money

Australian Open organisers say early-round losers at January's tournament will receive a significant pay rise as part of what they say is the biggest purse in tennis history.

Responding to player demands for a bigger slice of prize money, Tennis Australia has moved to avert a potential boycott of the opening Grand Slam of the year.

The 2013 singles champions at Melbourne Park will each collect $2.43 million.

First-round losers will receive $27,600, representing a 32.7 per cent increase from 2012; second-round losers will get $45,500 (up 36.6 per cent) and third-round losers will receive $71,000, a 30 per cent increase.